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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #288924
Title: Third stage seed-cotton cleaning system PM2.5 emission factors and rates for cotton gins: Method 201A combination PM10 and PM2.5 sizing cyclones

Author
item BUSER, MICHAEL - Oklahoma State University
item Whitelock, Derek
item Boykin Jr, James
item Holt, Gregory

Submitted to: Journal of Cotton Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/21/2013
Publication Date: 12/30/2013
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5394145
Citation: Buser, M.D., Whitelock, D.P., Boykin Jr, J.C., Holt, G.A. 2013. Third stage seed-cotton cleaning system PM2.5 emission factors and rates for cotton gins: Method 201A combination PM10 and PM2.5 sizing cyclones. Journal of Cotton Science. 17(4):346-356.

Interpretive Summary: In 2006, the US Environmental Protection Agency implemented a more stringent air quality standard for very fine dust smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter. All cotton gins will eventually be impacted by this standard. The primary issue affecting the cotton industry across the country is that cotton gins may not be regulated fairly, because very little scientifically sound information is available on cotton gin emissions of this very fine dust. In response, seven cotton gins at locations across the Cotton Belt were sampled by the three USDA-ARS Cotton Ginning Laboratories and Oklahoma State University to determine the amount of very fine dust emitted while processing cotton. Two of the seven gins were equipped with third stage seed-cotton cleaning systems. It was found that the third stage seed-cotton cleaning systems at the gins sampled emitted on average 0.009 pounds of the fine dust for every 500-pound bale of cotton produced, which was about 14% of the total dust emitted from the system. This information provides previously unavailable estimates for fine dust emissions from cotton gins and, thus, will ensure that cotton gins are appropriately permitted and accounted for in state and federal regulations. Furthermore, this may allowing many gins to avoid installing additional dust control measures with substantially higher capital and operating costs that will impact the ginning cost to the farmer.

Technical Abstract: This manuscript is part of a series of manuscripts that detail a project to characterize cotton gin emissions from the standpoint of stack and ambient sampling. The impetus behind the project was the 2006 EPA implementation of a more stringent standard for particulate matter less than or equal to 2.5 micrometer (PM2.5) and the fact that there was very little available cotton gin PM2.5 emissions data. The objective for this study was the development of PM2.5 emission factors for cotton gin 3rd stage seed-cotton cleaning systems based on the EPA approved stack sampling methodology, Other Test Method 27. The project plan included sampling seven cotton gins across the Cotton Belt. Key factors for selecting specific cotton gins included: 1) facility location (geographically diverse), 2) industry representative production capacity, 3) typical processing systems, and 4) equipped with properly designed and maintained 1D3D cyclones. Two of the seven gins were equipped with 3rd stage seed-cotton cleaning systems. In terms of capacity, the two gins were typical of the industry, averaging 22.8 bales/hr during testing. Average measured PM2.5 emission factor based on the two tests (6 total test runs) was 0.004 kg/bale (0.009 lb/bale). The project emission factors for PM10 and total particulate were 0.022 kg/bale (0.049 lb/bale) and 0.029 kg/bale (0.063 lb/bale), respectively. The PM2.5 emission rate from test averages ranged from 0.07 to 0.11 kg/hr (0.16 to 0.23 lb/hr). The ratios of PM2.5 to total particulate, PM2.5 to PM10, and PM10 to total particulate were 13.8, 18.0, and 76.5%, respectively.